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Press Release

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The OKC Internet Memorial Quilt

The Internet Memorial Quilt (IMQ) was created by a group stitchers and 
quilters, men and women of all ages, colors, and religions located all over 
the world. It is important to note the IMQ represents no particular group 
based on religion, gender, age, or race. These needleworkers regularly 
participate in two newsgroups on the Internet, and they wish to convey to 
the Oklahoma City community the horror, shock, sympathy, and empathy as felt 
across the country and throughout the world due to the terroristic-style 
bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995.

To date, the history of the IMQ is a brief one. The IMQ started with a single 
post on the newsgroup rec.crafts.textiles.needlework. Additional postings 
quickly followed, along with those on another closely related newsgroup, 
rec.crafts.textiles.quilting, to express grief and sheer horror at the 
senseless and tragic loss of life due to this horrific event. A quilt was 
suggested, and this concept quickly gained momentum.

Individuals, and some companies, generously donated their time, materials, 
sashing, batting, and handspun yarn for the this unique quilt. Just over 200 
individually cross-stitched blocks, some quilted, were contributed to make 
the IMQ a reality. Quilters from the US central east coast also assisted by 
participating in several "quilting bees" to complete the IMQ.

The finished quilt now measures approximately 8.5 feet tall and 21 feet wide. 
It is hoped that a "permanent" location for the IMQ will soon be arranged 
with Oklahoma City to display the IMQ as an everlasting reminder of the 
humanity and heartfelt concern that can truly surface after such an 
inconceivable tragedy.

IMQ contributors will formally present this truly remarkable and unique quilt 
to Oklahoma City, its mayor, and city council, on Tuesday morning, September 
19, 1995, beginning at 8:00 a.m. All interested parties are invited to attend 
and, especially, to remember those to whom the IMQ is dedicated -- those who 
died, the survivors, their families, and the rescue workers who selflessly 
gave their time, energies, and emotions in the aftermath of this tragic 
incident.

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People who worked on publicity:

    Helen Mardis   <mailto:hmardis@uiuc.edu>
    Amy Lawrence   <mailto:amy-stitch@halcyon.com>
    Patty Anderson <mailto:pandersn@silver.sdsmt.edu>
    Vicki Badik    <mailto:badik@rain.org>
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